28 December 2007

You don't see that every day

It would probably be inappropriate to say how splendid it is to see some footballer in England charged with affray. Not just common assault, nor a boring breach of the peace, but good, old-fashioned affray. This source defines it as follows:
AFFRAY in law, the fighting of two or more persons in a public place to the terror (a l'effroi) of the lieges. The offence is a misdemeanour at English common law, punishable by fine and imprisonment. A fight in private is an assault and battery, not an affray. As those engaged in an affray render themselves also liable to prosecution for Assault, Unlawful Assembly (see ASSEMBLY, UNLAWFUL), or Riot, it is for one of these offences that they are usually charged. Any private person may, and constables and justices must, interfere to put a stop to an affray.
You must not upset the lieges, you know, especially at 5.30 in the morning outside a McDonald's in Liverpool.

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